The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-09-07


straint
"You are right" he answered. eve
never live them over. There is only one
thing | want to say to you, Anita. You
won't be angryl 1t is this: BE sure you
know your own mind"
"You think do not now2n
81 cannot tell. hope you do. Not
all men are wont to take disappointment
philosophically Perhaps Griffiths would
not"
Miss Hastings cheeks turned shade
paler. Her dusky complexion had a
blush tinge.
care you getting a chill' he asked.
''Not at all. Butt don't see Walter
anywhere. 1t is strange he should stay
out so long"
Baxter put up his hand to shade his
eyes. The sun was dazzling.
81 don't see him either" he said, and
continued to gaze.
'He is perfect swimmer" Anita went
on, uneasily. "And surely he would be
careful"
Baxter started slightly.
"Can you stay here alone he asked,
or go in shore by the liner I'll look for
him.
20 'I'll go ashore" she had begun to say,
but he had plunged on through a great
wave and no longer heard her.
She turned and slowly made her way
back, clinging ever to the sagging rope.
But she had not gone far when something
checked her progress and caused her to
face quickly seaward.
A wild outcry that for an instant made
her heart stand still A bitter cry and
sudden hoarse shouts. Then the beach
blackened with men and women by thou
sands, other than the bathers.
'Man drowningm That was the awful
cry.
Anita Hastings, standing statue.like,
with eyes strained to know the worst,
could not even feel the water that Tapped
her ankles. She was incapable of feel
ing anything; frozen from head to foot.
For now she knew-half intuitively, half
by circumstances Walter Griffiths
was out beyond the reach of the boldest
and going down to his death.
She could not stir She was numb,
frozen.
The shouts and outcries constantly in
creased until the hubbub was maddening.
And still she stood there, with only
power for one agonized thought.
'If could only swimv
Walter Griffiths, her lately avowed
| lover, the man for whom she had broken
her engagement with Ned Baxter! Wal
ter out there, battling, struggling, de-
sparing.
She iancied she saw his arms flung up
! for the last, last time; then-hush! Why
should they cheerl What was that? Who
was that out therel Could she see a
CLEAN of blue and orange above the
! breakersl Why should they cheerl Was
| it because another risked his life to save
her lovers? Was it because Ned Baxter
had not hesitated, but had gone out to
save the man who had supplanted him
/ Hush Another cheer Was she dead her
self? Had her heart ceased to beat!
On either side of her some one had
caught her arms, and they were dragging
her up the beach.
1t seemed to her that she must shrek
aloud. Yet she was dumb, and growing
deaf and blind as WELL Her mother caught
her in her arms.
And now another maddening cheer.
The life savers going out and strong
ropes rapidly uncoiling
Anita, on her knees by her mothers
side, prayed dumbly for the two out
there.
Then she shut her ears with her fingers
the men were drawing in the ropes; the
rhythmic, awful chant of voices measured
the length of pull and told when to cease
and let out with the ebb
They were pulling -what?-whom
Would the savers bring one rescued man,
one drowned, two drowned, or none at
all-not even cold form with the soul
battered outl
She held her fingers in her ears. The
chant of the toiling men would have
craZed her.
And amid louder shrieks and hoarseI
clamor the savers staggered ashore al
last; and laid two forms upon the sand.
Life was in both as vet. But Walter
: Grifiiths needed much rolling and pound
ing to bring him around. Baxter, on
the other hand, speedily revived and
tried to stand on his feet.
''rm all right he murmured, but his
lips were quite blue.
Anita Hastings turned to him. GIiffiths
had been carried to-his hotel.
"You saved himw she cried hysteri
cally.
The crowd took up her words with ,
mighty cheer.
"Give me your handr' cried one mar
and then another. The women sobbeC
aloud.
Anita sank dizzily into her mother'i
embrace, and heard rather than saw NeC
Baxter borne home upon mems shoulder
"a hero!
OF the three, perhaps, Miss Hastings
felt the shock the longest For seveF
days she remained almost entirely in he
room. Griffiths and Baxter went abou
!, as if nothing had happened. Griftiths
, who was the richer of the two, showed
the other some extra little attentions
perhaps, but neither alluded in any wa,
to the late almost tragic occurrence.
Anita Hastings, however, could no
keep from talking about it. Griffith
, must have been ill-natured on some othe
score when one night he responded i'm
Atiently to a remark of hers concerning
Ned Baxter: "lou make perfect go,
of him!'
Anita gazed straight in his face for
5 moment She was silent, but her eye
2 CLEANED omniouslY.
"If he had been lost she said, wit
great delibeTation, " | should never hay